So I lied about the updating thing, I just went on my summer holidays, or rather Christmas holidays and they last 8 weeks, so I'm gonna be updating a bit and writing a lot. I'm not gonna make up any excuse or lame reason for not updating, but I thank all the people who have reviewed and I hope you do again. This chapter seems a little childish to me, but I just felt it was the best way do it.

The waiting room, how many times had they been there. Waiting desperately for a sign, so they could return home with their loved one. The only problem was, they no longer had a home to return to. All but Kyo and Hatori had been kicked out of the room as the continues peep infected the air. They had all cried, she was dying, and they didn't know if she would make it. Of course no one dared to utter a thing, no one dared to mention the fact they might never see her smile again or her cheeky grin. Her how her hair had been tainted the deepest of reds by her own essences. No, as they waited silently in the cold and overrun waiting room, they said not a word, made not a sound, all feeling a deep hollowness they associated with being alone.

Kyo was tired, he was ow so tired, but he would stay awake until she woke, until it was safe to hold her in his arms and until he could finally tell her how he felt once more. That stupid ringing would not stop singing in his ear, it would not leave him alone, and every time the heart monitor beeped he was forced to relive the nightmare.

Blood, red, screaming. "Haruhi!" was that Tohru?

Dizzyness everything blearing together. He need to see her, to feel her hand in his one last time.

Screaming, hands everywhere, pulling. "NO!" he pushed off, still running thought the thick thong of endless people. Dockers and friends alike.

"NO!"

Kyo shook his head to clear of it the repeating memory. She was okay now, it wouldn't happen again, even though they couldn't find the source of it, it wouldn't happen again.

Her pale tiny hand in his, he gently ran his thumb over her soft and gentle fingers, to lifeless to really belong to the happy and energetic Haruhi he had grown up with.

He felt sick, but he also felt happy, and that made him feel even worse. He felt sick because what had happened, she was in hospital, she was dying, she wasn't okay.

But the happiness stemmed from somewhere in his heart that had something to do with Akito letting them go. And then he felt sick again.

It seemed to be a never-ending cycle.

Hear the beep, remember, try to compose yourself, be sad and feel sick, feel happy, feel even worse. Hear the beep again.

A gentle somehow found itself resting on his shoulder, and, without removing his own hand from Haruhi's, he looked up into the dark eye of Hatori. The man who had always been there to patch them up and could save anyone when stuff like this happened. But this time, his eye was filled with a certain sadness he had only seen when Akito had ripped out his other eyes and forced him to remove the memories of his loved one.

The sadness spoke of pain, and longing and a wish for a happiness that no one could quite ever archive in there short time on earth. And yet, behind the sadness that they all felt for Haruhi, there was a silent and hesitant happiness ringing of freedom and life, and hope.

"Hatori?" Kyo was unsure, what was he meant to say, why was the man happy and why was it hesitant.

The usual frown that lined his face was replaced by slight confusion and overall hesitance. "I just got a phone call," Kyo nodded, that had been the reason he had left the room, neither wanting to go tell the others of Haruhi's condition just yet, not wanting to plant any false hope. He drew in a breath, "They just found Akito… he's dead."

Kyo didn't know what he thought the other man would say, but it certainly wasn't that. Suddenly guilt filled him, the man had been a monster, but no one should be condemned to die alone. Even monsters. Had it been there fault, had they been the ones to trigger this. But he had been dying for years, and the god always died young. But how young was two young. He was only 22, that seemed, even for a monster, like short, short life to live.

Suddenly the hand in his gripped tightly, and his guilt was forgotten as he turned back to the bed where his love lay. Her eyes were open and her hair, once a beautiful brown, now a gorgeous white seemed to glow. "He's dead is he," that was Haruhi's voice, and the smile that tore at her gentle lips was not her own. It was cruel and vicious and never Haruhi's, in fact it looked more like something Akito would wear. "And your all still alive!"

That voice, like a cold whisper that ran like lightning in the night. It froze both men's soles, it sent shivers down there spines, and made their hearts ache for something, or rather, someone to save them and kill the being inside of Haruhi. "Who-," Kyo couldn't help it, the word was out of his mouth before he even realised.

Two cold eyes glanced his way, the teens body not moving the slightest bit, the voice cackled. "I am the witch who cursed your family. Your stupid horrible family who thought they were too good for me. The story has it wrong. I was but a child and you brought me into your home, welcomed me, only to try and drown me when you saw I had powers. I could not control what I did, so I cursed you."

That demonic laugh again, and Kyo resisted the urge to flinch, Hatori squinting his one eyes, even as he took a step back, away from the evil voice.

"You can break the curse, now that is. You have suffered enough. Now the God has gone, and all the zodiacs are… born. You can break the curse. And I'll give you one little hint as to how.

You who has been locked,
By the strongest of chains
Is the key to the lock
But first you must find fight though the pain
If you share the most intimate thought
With one who you share love
You can let the curse lie
And appease you dead god above"

The woman giggled more as both men watched in horror. Freedom, they could get freedom, and all they had to do was solve the riddle.

A sharp intake of breath broke them from the thoughts as Haurhi returned to her mind and broke free from the creatures hold.

Looking around Haruhi once more took in her surroundings and found the eyes of Kyo, worried and tired, the best comfort she ever knew.

Everything hurt and she couldn't really remember much, but one memory stuck out in the forefront of her mind. She was walking and her face hurt, and her hand, gentle and untarnished by work touched soft skin gentle. And then her chest had ached and she had fallen, but for some reason she hadn't cared that she was dying. The next thing she knew she was speaking, strange words that seemed to fit together oddly.

A puzzle that she couldn't forget. And as she finally comprehends her actual words, she realised what they meant. She could be free, Kyo could be free, everyone could be free, they just had to find someone they loved, and who loved them back, and tell them. It seemed so simple.

"Kyo," her throat was sore from underuse and damage, and her words were slurred and breathy. But she had to get it out, if she did this then she could be free. "I love you," simple, no hesitation, and suddenly something deep in her stomach was rumbling, rolling, crashing and quaking. Something was going to happen.

Kyo heard the words, but it took a moment to really comprehend what they meant, he loved her too, of course he did, but how was he meant to say that. Just simple, just normal. He didn't know, and his stomach was tight light a rope being pulled to its longest reach and still be asked to be longer.

He swallowed, and hesitantly spoke. "I… love you too." The moment the words were out of his mouth, the rope snapped and he felt pain course through him, but he couldn't scream, he couldn't move, this pain, unimaginable seemed welcome for some reason he could not surmise. It seemed to be breaking something inside of him, and tearing it out, something he had always had. Something he had never wanted.

It lasted minutes and when it final left he felt like a weight had been lifted from his shoulders, cast away like a boat in the night. And it felt good. He looked to Haruhi and could see the same utter relief in her eyes. It felt oh so good.

Hatori watched, amazed by what he saw, two spirt like creatures had drifted from the prone teenager's bodies. A sleeping almost content cat, sitting on the lap of a creature, also sleeping, had drifted up out of Kyo's body before disappearing into thin air. A baby wolf sleeping contently also slipping from Haruhi's and vanishing. He froze, his mouth open wide, he had just witnessed the breaking of the curse.

The riddle seeming ridiculously easy now. You had to find love, and they had to love you too. He ran from the room, a smile lighting his features for the first time in long time as he ran to tell the others of the news. Haruhi was fine and they could finally be free of this curse.

So, there you have it, what do you think. Childish? Immature? Maybe. Hell, probably. But I'm either going to go one of two ways with the next few chapters, and they will be published within the next two weeks. I will either give you one more chapter and an epilogue or just an epilogue, you guys pick.

Thanks for reading and please review